boating cards

BE-5

What does a capacity plate indicate?
Fuel tank and oil reservoir size
Safe load limit
Vessel dimensions
Number of life jackets required

safe load limit

BE-11

What special care must you take with your hull identification number (HIN)?

Conceal it to prevent identification theft
Be careful not to remove or destroy this number
Display it on the forward half of your vessel
Remove it after purchase so it doesn’t get stolen

Be careful not to remove or destroy this number

BE-12

A planing hull has which of the following characteristics?

It is designed to ride on top of the water
It pushes water out of its way at high speed
It maneuvers poorly at any speed
It tends to be very heavy and displaces water

It is designed to ride on top of the water

BE-13

What does a boat’s capacity plate indicate?
The vessel registration number
The maximum propeller diameter
The size and capacity of the fuel tank
The maximum number of persons and weight the boat should carry

The maximum number of persons and weight the boat should carry

BE-21

What does a marine pump out station do?

Cleans contaminated fuel tanks
Removes water from flooded bilges
Pumps out waste from holding tanks
Controls water flow at a dam

Pumps out waste from holding tanks

BE-24
Under federal law, it is illegal to toss any garbage from a boat if you are within how many miles of shore?

3
5
10
15

3

BE-28 When is the best time for cleaning your boat to stop the spread of aquatic nuisance species?

Before you leave home
When you get back home
Before you leave the ramp area
Prior to launching at a different waterway

Before you leave the ramp area

BE-37

Most cruising sailboats and trawlers have what type of hull?
Cathedral Hull
Deep V Hull
Flat Bottom Hull
Round Bottom Hull

Round Bottom Hull

BE-39

A cathedral hull allows a boat to do what?

Get up on a plane quicker
Turn easier
Operate effiently in reverse
Run at a higher RPM

Get up on a plane quicker

BE-44 What is true of a No Discharge Zone or NDZ?

Discharge of sewage is illegal
Charging batteries is not allowed
Exhaust mufflers are suggested
Discharging water is recommended

Discharge of sewage is illegal

EQ-2 On power-driven vessels, which of the following is true of navigation lights?

Lights must be turned on from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.Lights must be green on port and red on starboardLights must be white on the bow and red on the sternLights must be on during periods of restricted visibility

must be on during periods of restricted visibility

EQ-4 What must you do if you see another vessel’s red and white lights off your starboard bow?

Proceed at full speed
Maneuver to avoid a collision
Steer toward the lights
Speed up and take a look

Maneuver to avoid a collision

EQ-6

If you see a red, a green, and a white light on another boat, what does this tell you?

A boat is approaching you head-on
A boat is moving directly away from you
You have encountered a vessel at anchor with engine running
You are the stand-on vessel and must maintain course and speed

A boat is approaching you head-on

EQ-9

If another boat signals their intention to pass you from astern, what should you do?

Return the signal with five short blasts if you agree with their intentions
Sound with the same signal but louder if you don’t understand their intentions
Answer with the same signal if in agreement and maintain course and speed
Immediately move to the right or left side of the channel and let them pass

Answer with the same signal if in agreement and maintain course and speed

EQ-10

What do three short blasts of a horn indicate?
A boat is warning you that you may be on a collision course
You are approaching a boat in a designated anchorage area
A boat is using astern propulsion and is in the act of backing up
A drawbridge is about to close and you must stay clear

A boat is using astern propulsion and is in the act of backing up

EQ-12

A boat less than 12 meters (39.4 feet) in length, must have which of the following aboard?
VHF radio or cell phone
Marine sanitation device
Sound signaling device
Seat for every passenger

Sound signaling device

EQ-32

Which is a characteristic of a Type III PFD?
It is designed to be used as a throwable device
It is considered a good rough-water offshore PFD
It has greater buoyancy than all other PFDs
It will not turn most unconscious wearers face-up

It will not turn most unconscious wearers face-up

EQ-33

When selecting a PFD, what should be the most important consideration?

Size
Price
Storage Pockets
Designer Styling

Size

EQ-36 When paddling a canoe at night, which piece of equipment should be carried to help avoid a collision?

Flares
Compass
Flashlight
Binoculars

Flashlight

EQ-41

If pyrotechnic visual distress signals are used, how many must be onboard?

7
5
3
1

3

TP-1 The tongue weight of a trailer should be what percent of the Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR)?

5 to 15%
16 to 25%
26 to 35%
36 to 45%

5 to 15%

TP-2

Trailer ratings are based on what?
The type of boat they are designed to carry
The length and width of the trailer
The total weight of the trailer and boat
The type of hitch they use

The total weight of the trailer and boat

TP-14 Which of the following is a sign that the weather may change for the worse?

Clouds moving from east to west
A sudden drop in the temperature
Static on the FM band of the radio
A rise in the barometric pressure

A sudden drop in the temperature

TP-19 Which of the following is recommended maintenance for an inboard boat?

Life jackets should be securely stored in the forward v-berth compartment
Deteriorated engine and hull zincs should be replaced if corroded
Keep expired flares 1 year after expiration without replacing them
Seacocks for the engine and galley should be locked in the open position

Deteriorated engine and hull zincs should be replaced if corroded

TP-23 Which safety precaution should be taken first by a boat operator when boating in stormy weather?

Close all the hatches
Broadcast a "MAYDAY"
Immediately ask the Coast Guard for help
Make sure all aboard are wearing USCG-approved PFDs

Make sure all aboard are wearing USCG-approved PFDs

TP-25

Which is a common first indicator of an approaching thunderstorm?
A buildup of dark clouds
A decrease in wind speed
A glassy sheen on the water surface
The development of a fog bank

A buildup of dark clouds

TP-29

What is the vertical movement of the surface of a body of water called?
Tide
Current
Mean water
Sheer

Tide

TP-37

Who should you call first if you have an oil or fuel spill?
Your boat insurance company
The local marine police or harbor patrol
U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center
The Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center

TP-38

By law, what must you do if oil or fuel spills into the water?
Leave it to evaporate or sink to the bottom
Hose it down to avoid a fire hazard
Disperse it with household cleaners or detergents
Report it to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center

Report it to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center

SB-17

Which of the following must you do when anchoring at night?
Sound a horn signal every hour
Turn your bow and stern lights on
Display an all-around white light
Keep a look out person on de

Display an all-around white light

SB-20 Which of the following is recommended when docking your boat?

Use lines and cleats to help maneuver your boat
Put out fenders after you are secured to the dock
Remove all slack in your lines once you are tied up
Use full speed to maintain maneuverability

Use lines and cleats to help maneuver your boat

SB-23 Which of the following is true about the use of alcohol while boating?

It is against the law to operate a vessel while intoxicated
Alcohol has less of an affect on you while boating because of the fresh air
If you feel like you had too much to drink, a dip in the water can sober you up
There are no laws that govern the use of alcohol while operating a boat

It is against the law to operate a vessel while intoxicated

When approaching a mooring buoy, which of the following should you do?

Approach slowly, so as not to run over the mooring line or buoy
Approach the mooring buoy from the opposite direction of the moored boats
Attach extra line to the mooring buoy to reduce the chance of dragging
Always keep the boat in gear in order to provide steerage if you miss the buoy

Approach slowly, so as not to run over the mooring line or buoy

SB-30

When is a lookout on a vessel required?

At all times
In bad weather
When near another vessel
Within 100 yards of land

At all times

SB-34

When operating a boat near other boats or when entering a congested area, why should you watch your wake?

It may be used to estimate boat speed
It may cause personal injury or damage
It should not be more than three inches high
It can be used to judge clearance from other boats

It may cause personal injury or damage

SB-50 On a recreational boat, the location of emergency equipment (life jackets, fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, radio, etc.) should be reviewed before departure with which persons?

Everyone aboard
Paid crew members
All non-swimmers
Adults age 21 and over

Everyone aboard

SB-51

Under the Navigation Rules, in which situation is it OK to break the rules?

When you are fishing and can’t maneuver well
When you are changing direction on a sail boat
When absolutely necessary to avoid a collision
It is never OK to break the Navigation Rules

When absolutely necessary to avoid a collision

SB-54

A float plan should contain what information?

A pre-departure checklist
A national weather service storm advisory signal listing
Coast Guard emergency radio frequencies
A date and time to contact the authorities

A date and time to contact the authorities

P-2 What is the safest thing to do for someone suspected of having hypothermia?

Give them a warm alcoholic beverage
Massage the body to circulate blood
Get immediate medical attention
Apply hot towels to the head to thin the blood

Get immediate medical attention

EP-3

What should you do if your small open boat capsizes?

Elect someone to swim to shore for help
Get under the capsized boat for protection
Stay with the boat and signal for help
Push or pull the boat to a busy boating channel

Stay with the boat and signal for help

EP-17

What is hypothermia?

A small but devastating aquatic nuisance species that can choke out natural plant life
A situation when the engine overheats as a result of improper ventilation
A serious condition that requires medical attention as a result of cold water immersion
A dark cloud formation that builds from the East indicating an approaching storm

A serious condition that requires medical attention as a result of cold water immersion

EP-37

What type of Boating Emergency causes the most fatalities?

Collision
Capsizing
Fire
Running Aground

Capsizing

EP-38

When performing a self rescue, when should you swim to shore?

When you first hit the water
When hypothermia starts to set in
When you see someone on shore
As the last resort

As the last resort

BA-2 What does a slashing hand motion over the neck mean by a waterskiing participant?

Lengthen the ski rope
Slow the boat down
Cut the motor or stop
Return to the dock

Cut the motor or stop

BA-7 Other than a PFD, what two things must be aboard every personal watercraft?

An oar and reserve fuel tank
Certificate of documentation and tool kit
Garbage placard and state registration
Fire extinguisher and emergency signaling devices

Fire extinguisher and emergency signaling devices

BA-10 When arriving at a navigation lock, what is the order of priority?

Commercial vessels, fishing vessels, military craft then pleasure craft
Pleasure craft, commercial vessels, military craft then fishing vessels.
Fishing vessels, military craft, pleasure craft then commercial vessels
Military craft, commercial vessels, fishing vessels then pleasure craft

Military craft, commercial vessels, fishing vessels then pleasure craft

BA-11 When passing through a lock, which light means "approach the lock under full control?"

Red
Amber
Green
White

Amber

BA-13

What do courteous PWC operators always do?

Wear a Type IV PFD
Control speed, noise and wake
File a float plan with the Coast Guard
Loan their PWC to inexperienced riders

Control speed, noise and wake

BA-17 Why are low head dams dangerous to small boats and paddle craft?

The roar of the water can confuse boat operators
Backwash can pin you and your boat indefinitely
The dam may not have any water on the other side
They are always well marked giving you false confidence

Backwash can pin you and your boat indefinitely